Folding baby chair and tray



Jan. 1, 1952 Filed Jan. 6, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET l (Zea lave zace INVENTOR 1 {I1 I J 0 ATTORNEYS Jan. 1, 1952 OV LA 2,580,935

FOLDING BABY CHAIR AND TRAY Filed Jan. 6, 1949 2 SHEETS SHEET 2 Clea Lovelace INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 1, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT FOLDING BABY CHAIR AND TRAY Cleo Lovelace, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor of one-half to H. '1. Edwards, Glendale, Calif.

Application January 6, 1949, Serial No. 69,561

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to chairs. More particularly, the invention has reference to a foldable chair for children.

The problem of finding seating accommodations for children of tender years while away from home is well-known to parents. For example, it is a problem to take care of a small child in a restaurant, and to this end some restaurants keep one or more conventional high chairs on the premises. Additionally, the problem is decidedly present during the taking of trips, whether by automoble or train. In these circumstances, not only is it a necessity to have a special seat for the infant in the automobile or train, but it becomes necessary to provide a seat for the child during stops at restaurants, in hotels, etc.

It is accordingly an important object of the present invention to provide a foldable baby chair which, when folded, takes up no more space than a small suit case and which, in fact, is readily adapted in and of itself to serve as a container in which goods may be packed away during travels.

Another important object is to provide a chair of the character described which, as stated above, is readily foldable so as to be carried in the hand, but which nevertheless can be unfolded and set up wherever desired, so as to be ready for use in a minimum of time.

Another important object is to provide a chair of the character described which not only can be carried during travels in the manner described above, but which also can render unnecessary the use in the home of a conventional high chair.

Another important object is to provide a chair as described that can be constructed at relatively low costs, but which nevertheless is easilyset up or folded, and is durable and attractive.

With the foregoing and other objects in View which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts, hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claim, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevational view showing the chair unfolded.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view showing the chair unfolded.

Figure 3 is a rear elevational view showing the chair unfolded.

Figure 4 is a top plan view showing the chair unfolded.

Figure 5 is a side elevational view showing th chair folded.

Figure 6 is a front elevational view showing the chair folded.

Figure 7 is an enlarged section on line 1-1 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the reference numeral 5 designates a base, which in the present instance is generally flat-and rectangular in conformation. At the sides of the base are mounted the upstanding side walls S,'and at the front of the base and extended transversely of the side walls is the front wall 1. A rear wall 8 has the rectangular opening 9, and supported upon the side walls 6 and front wall 1 is the seat Ill.

The parts so far described comprise the seat portion of the chair and it will be readily noted that said seat portion in the present instance is hollow, so that it can serve as a container for goods, such as the infants personal items. To facilitate the deposit and withdrawal of said goods, I provide in the present instance a drawer ll sliding in the opening 9, and this is provided with the recess I 2 constituting a grip or handle, and the grasp latch IS. A stop shoulder I 4 on the rear wall 8 limits inward movement of the drawer.

The front edge of the seat is preferably beveled as at I5 for seating comfort.

A foot rest I6 is secured to the front of the seat portion at its lower end, by hinges ll. For use, the foot rest is swung downwardly to the position illustrated in Fig. '7. When the chair is folded, the foot rest is swung upwardly to the position illustrated in Fig. 5.

I provide a means for securing the infants chair to the seat of a conventional chair and in one form, this means can be a transverse strap l8 including a buckle for adjustment, the ends of said strap being secured by rivets I 9 to the side walls 6.

The strap I8 is passed under the seat of a conventional chair, whereupon it is tightened and this secures the infants chair tightly to said conventional chair (not shown).

Arm rests 20 are connected by hinges 2| to the sides of the seat Ill, and a back rest 22 is connected by hinges 23 to the back wall 8. A, food tray 24 is rigid with depending arms 25 each formed with a longitudinal slot 26, through which extends wing nuts 21 threadable on studs 28 that extend laterally from the side walls 6.

Optionally, there can be connectable to the back rest 22 the hooks H, extendable over the back rests of car seats to adapt the infants chair for use as an infants car seat.

Assuming that the chair is unfolded and set up ready for use, it will appear as in Figs. 1 to 4 and. 7 In this position of the parts, the chair is readily strapped to the seat of a conventional chair, or hung upon an automobile seat. Arm rests 20 extend upwardly from the sides of the seat portion and back rest 22 extends upwardly from the back thereof. Food tray 24 overlies the front portions of the arm rests, and the food tray is secured in the illustrated position by means of the wing nuts 21.

Assuming that it is desired to fold the chair, the wing nuts 2! are first loosened, for adjustment of the food tray to a position overlying the front face of the seat portion. The arm rests 20 are swung inwardly toward each other so as to 'lie flat upon the upper face of the seat portion,

the back rest 22 is swung forwardly so as to lie upon the folded arm rests. The entire chair is thus folded to the size illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6,

so as to be readily portable in the manner of a small suit case. The hollow seat portion permits articles to be packed therein.

Important characteristics of the invention are its adaptability for ready folding and setting up; its use in any location 'wherethe securing means 18 or H can be applied; its characteristic as a container; and its adaptability for manufacture at low cost.

What is claimed is: In an *i-nfants chair a seat portion, arm rests 4 hinged to the upper face of the seat portion along opposite sides of the seat portion said arm rests being swingable to a position in which they extend vertically from said upper face of the seat portion, the arm rests being swingable to another extreme position in which they are folded against and lie flat upon said seat portion, and a food tray extending fully across the seat portion and straddling both arm rests, the food tray including a transversely extended tray member the end portions of which overlie the top edges of the arm rests in the first-named position of the arm rests, and arms rigid with and depending from the opposite ends of said tray member and having elongated slots, said arms being pivotally connectable to the side Walls of the seat portion through said slots and being secured by their connections to the seat portion in a position in which the tray member presses downwardly upon the top edges of the arm rests to retain said arm rests in raised position.

CLEO LOVELACE.

REFERENCES CITE-D The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 422,080 Hutton Feb. 25, -I890 794,461 Mackey July 11, 1905 1,398,021 Holley Nov. 22, 1921 1,440,132 Chrisma-n Dec. 26, 1922 2,050,114 Moore Aug. 4, 1936 2,489,087 Hewit Nov. 22, 19 49 

